I never met the man personally although I had been in his presence at a number of events in recent years – the dedication of the foot soldier sculpture, the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act when some of the rabbis returned to St Augustine and at the commission meetings when he was awarded […]

I never met the man personally although I had been in his presence at a number of events in recent years – the dedication of the foot soldier sculpture, the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act when some of the rabbis returned to St Augustine and at the commission meetings when he was awarded honors on several occasions.

The memorial was held today at Reverend Rawls’ St Paul AME Church and it was a full house. The most notable and known speaker was Mayor, Congressman, Reverend Andrew Young but everyone who spoke sent chills down your spine – especially the contemporary of Dr Hayling who was almost beaten to death alongside the doctor during a KKK attack in St Augustine.

A young black man who lives and works in Jax had met Dr H two years ago having never heard of him of previously. He was at a civil rights banquet and was surprised when everyone stood as Dr H entered the room. They became friends and whenever the doctor was in St Augustine Eric would drive him around. Recently he took Dr H to see the cemetery that had undergone a major cleanup and which the doctor had not seen in many years. They stopped alongside the graves of members of the KKK and Dr H asked Eric to stop the car. He got out, stood over the tombstones, bowed his head and said a prayer for these men who had beaten him and many other black citizens. When he returned to the car he said that everyone deserved forgiveness.

When the shooter killed the people in the AME church in Charleston, Rev Rawls opened the church so everyone could sort out their feelings and before the end of all the interfaith preaching (clergy members from many churches were in attendance and they all spoke), he asked that we also pray for the shooter and his family. And I believe most everyone did.

Reprinted with permission from The St. Augustine Record WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ST AUGUSTINE It’s that time of year when we have to fasten our seat belts so all the events coming at us fast and furiously don’t knock us out of our seats! Keep your calendars close so you don’t miss a thing. St Augustine lost a […]

It’s that time of year when we have to fasten our seat belts so all the events coming at us fast and furiously don’t knock us out of our seats! Keep your calendars close so you don’t miss a thing.

St Augustine lost a dear friend this month with the passing of Jan Jertson at the age of 84. Jan’s love for the visual arts and music was passionate and he shared it with everyone. A long-time member of the St Augustine Art Association, he helped start the St Johns Cultural Council and remained active in the arts community until he moved to Austin to be near his beloved son, Jon. Many will remember seeing him on his front porch at 17 Bridge Street where he would sit alongside a map of the world. Engaging passersby he’d mark their city on the map so he could see how far people had traveled to visit St Augustine. An evening with Jan meant listening to the same piece of classical music performed by different musicians followed by a rousing one-sided debate as to whose rendition was the best. Jon Jertson is holding a celebration of his father’s life this Saturday from 10-11am at the St Augustine Art Association, 22 Marine St. All are welcome.

There are still some tickets left for Nights of Lights in Black and White being held this Saturday evening from 6-10pm at the Ximenez-Fatio House. Tickets are $35 or $50 per couple and the proceeds benefit S.A.F.E. Rescue. Dress code is black and white (that’s easy!) and there’ll be swing dancing with a speakeasy band, cash bar and refreshments. Dust off your dancing shoes!

Happy 50th anniversary to the annual St Augustine Art & Craft Festival. Celebrating the Big 50, the festival will be held at Francis Field on November 28 and 29 from 10am to 5pm. This juried art fair features 150 fine artists from around the region and many mediums are represented including original visual art, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, woodworks, glass, photography and textile. The St Augustine Royal Family and a group of re-enactors will be on hand Sunday at 1pm and there is always plenty of music, food, beverages and activities for the little ones. Give the gift of original art this holiday season.

Albert Syeles tells me that Romanza will have its own Black Friday event where you can purchase discounted tickets from 11/26 – 11/30 for the Celtic Festival coming up spring of 2016. If you haven’t seen the musical line-up for this upcoming show you need to visit CelticStAugustine.com for more information. This event keeps growing and getting better and better every year.

Local clay artists, Toni De Witt and Bob Heim, are holding their annual studio sale. If you like what you see at the Saturday Farmer’s Market, you need to mark your calendar for December 5 and 6 where you can experience a full complement of their work in a magical setting. Call 824.1317 for directions and information.

Thomas Long is hosting his annual Studio Open House at his glassblowing warehouse at 25 Palmer St on December 5 from 4-8pm. There will be demonstrations, food, drink and a host of glass art pieces to buy for yourself or some lucky person in your life. This is always a fun event and a chance to see a variety of Thomas’ art on display in the same place it is created.

Lincolnville resident artist, Joe Segal, is having a show at the Florida Mining Gallery on 5300 Shad Road in Jacksonville. Permutations shows how various arrangements of similar subjects can alter perception or evolve an idea. Joe’s work is almost always created from salvaged wood beams and with this body of sculpture he has included powdered pigments to his treatment of surfaces. If you are an aficionado of his work, this is good news as the gallery is an easy trip and if you haven’t experienced the power and organic beauty of Joe’s art, you need to make time to go. The show is up through January 10, 2016.

Thank you Patrick Canan and Canan Law for being the local host of the 2015 Ronald McDonald Holiday Toy Drive. Toys are intended for children under 12 who are patients at Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital, the region’s only hospital for kids. Stuffed animals, toys, arts and crafts, sport-related items, electronic and board games are all on the list and toys need to be new and unwrapped. The American Society for Testing Materials request no buttons, zippers, rhinestones, snaps and similar choking hazards. Make a difference in the life of a hospitalized child with your gift. Drop-off locations are at the main office, 1030 N Ponce de Leon Blvd (corner of US1 and Cincinnati Ave) and 2245 CR210, Suite 116.

Finally, December 1st is the deadline for ROWITA (Recognizing Outstanding Women in the Arts) nominations and Joy D’Elia and the ROWITA committee encourage you to think of women artists who have made significant contributions to the arts over their lifetimes. The criteria is listed at stjohnsculture.com and the awards ceremony will follow in the spring of next year.

The city will be lit up shortly and then the holiday season will officially commence for St Augustine. Be sure to pause from the maddening hustle bustle and enjoy some of our loveliest architecture dressed in sparkling lights. You can’t stop the holidays so take your foot off the gas and embrace them.

By STUART KORFHAGE stuart.korfhage@staugustine.com St. Augustine’s history, attractions and tastes will get national exposure from the Weather Channel just before the city’s 450th celebration gets underway. Unless there’s something more pressing — like Tropical Storm Erika. The cable network is planning three hours of programming on Sept. 4 when it will bring its crew from the […]

]]>https://www.irenearriola.com/weather-channel-to-showcase-st-augustine-as-450th-celebration-begins-posted-august-26-2015-1007pm/feed/0What Are The Most Romantic Cities? 11 Cities Of Love, Because Paris Isn’t The Only Onehttps://www.irenearriola.com/what-are-the-most-romantic-cities-11-cities-of-love-because-paris-isnt-the-only-one/
https://www.irenearriola.com/what-are-the-most-romantic-cities-11-cities-of-love-because-paris-isnt-the-only-one/#respondWed, 29 Apr 2015 01:15:25 +0000http://www.irenearriola.com/?p=14626

St Augustine made the list! “St Augustine is my favorite romantic city. It’s under the radar in terms of trendiness, offers 16th century architecture as enticing as the local, fresh seafood, and has flat sand beaches that make even broad daylight totally love-inducing. Read more

]]>St Augustine made the list! “St Augustine is my favorite romantic city. It’s under the radar in terms of trendiness, offers 16th century architecture as enticing as the local, fresh seafood, and has flat sand beaches that make even broad daylight totally love-inducing. Read more

]]>https://www.irenearriola.com/what-are-the-most-romantic-cities-11-cities-of-love-because-paris-isnt-the-only-one/feed/0The 50 Best College Towns to Live in Foreverhttps://www.irenearriola.com/the-50-best-college-towns-to-live-in-forever/
https://www.irenearriola.com/the-50-best-college-towns-to-live-in-forever/#respondFri, 20 Mar 2015 22:04:49 +0000http://www.irenearriola.com/?p=14266

St Augustine has been recognized as the #1 best college town to live in! Read more here

For the third year in a row, St. Johns County has been ranked No. 1 in Florida in the Annual County Health Rankings Report released today by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The County Health Rankings Report measures a variety of health indicators that relate to quality and length of […]

]]>For the third year in a row, St. Johns County has been ranked No. 1 in Florida in the Annual County Health Rankings Report released today by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The County Health Rankings Report measures a variety of health indicators that relate to quality and length of life.

“As we track and measure health outcomes and factors related to health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors and the physical environment, we are reminded that there is no finish line in our efforts for better health,” said Dr. Dawn Allicock, director and health officer for the Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County, in a news release. Read More

As spring breakers pour into Orlando, at some point, they may want a break from all the manufactured theme-park fun. For USA TODAY, Sarah Sekula finds just the right side trips that offer a change of pace and will have visitors feeling downright Floridian in no time. Read more… Sarah Sekula, Special for USA TODAY […]

]]>As spring breakers pour into Orlando, at some point, they may want a break from all the manufactured theme-park fun. For USA TODAY, Sarah Sekula finds just the right side trips that offer a change of pace and will have visitors feeling downright Floridian in no time. Read more…

10Best and USA TODAY congratulate the winners! A new Readers’ Choice contest category launches each week. Vote for Best Classic Cocktail and see previous winners and vote in all underway contests at 10best.com/awards/travel/.